茶碗

• Reading: ちゃわん
• Romaji: chawan
• Kanji breakdown: 茶 (cha/sa) — tea; 碗 (wan) — bowl, cup
• Pronunciation: /tɕa.wa.ɴ/

Meaning

Rice bowl; tea cup. A ceramic bowl primarily used for eating rice in Japanese meals.

Despite containing the kanji for tea (茶), in daily use 茶碗 most commonly refers to the rice bowl. Each family member typically has their own personal rice bowl. In tea ceremony context, it refers to the tea bowl used for matcha.

Examples

1. ご飯を茶碗に入れてください。 Please put the rice in the rice bowl.
2. 茶碗を食卓に並べました。 I set the rice bowls on the dining table.
3. この茶碗は祖母のものです。 This rice bowl belongs to my grandmother.

Usage Guide

Context: home, meals, kitchen

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 茶 (cha, tea) + 碗 (wan, bowl). Originally meant 'tea bowl' for Chinese tea, but the meaning expanded to include rice bowls in everyday Japanese usage.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal